San Jose To Let Voters Decide City’s Minimum Wage Hike

SAN JOSE (CBS/AP) – The city of San Jose will let voters make the final decision on what the city’s minimum wage should be.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved putting a minimum wage ordinance on the Nov. 6 ballot. If approved, the minimum wage would rise from $8 to $10 an hour, with annual inflation adjustments.

Mayor Chuck Reed said the election will allow for city leaders, residents and business owners time to gather input and weigh in on the proposed ordinance.

The Council’s vote came after a majority of public speakers urged councilmembers to adopt a minimum wage hike outright which the council rejected 8 to 3.

The proposal originated in a San Jose State sociology class that gathered enough petition signatures last month to qualify it for in time for an election.

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